LATEST NEWS Nissan announces return to Syria with long-standing partner Al Rakhaa Trading Limited

The announcement was made during a signing ceremony held at Nissan’s Middle East  headquarters in Dubai, attended by senior leadership from both organizations, including  Massimiliano (Max) Messina, Chairperson for Nissan’s Africa, Middle East, India, Europe and  Oceania (AMIEO) region, Thierry Sabbagh, Divisional Vice President and President, Middle  East, KSA, CIS and India – Nissan and INFINITI, and Omar Shallah, CEO of Al Rakhaa Trading  Limited.

Under the renewed partnership, Nissan will adopt a phased approach to re-establishing  facilities, with vehicle sales planned to commence by mid-2026. The initial phase will focus  on establishing operations in Damascus, while further expansion will be assessed  progressively in line with market conditions and operational readiness. All facilities will be  developed in accordance with Nissan’s global Nissan Retail Concept (NRC) standards to deliver  a consistent, customer-centric sales and ownership experience to customers in Syria.

Thierry Sabbagh, Divisional Vice President and President, Middle East, KSA, CIS and  India – Nissan and INFINITI, said: “Nissan’s return to Syria forms part of our broader  strategy to strengthen our presence across the Middle East through disciplined, long-term  partnerships. Al Rakhaa Trading Limited is a partner with proven experience, a deep  understanding of the market, and a long-standing relationship with the Nissan brand. As we  re-establish operations, our focus is on building a structured foundation that supports  sustainable growth and delivers a consistent sales and ownership experience aligned with  Nissan’s global standards.”

The relationship between Nissan and Al Rakhaa Trading Limited dates back to 2006. By the  time commercial operations were paused in 2011, the partnership had established a  nationwide sales and aftersales network, including a flagship 3S facility in Damascus. Despite  the pause, Al Rakhaa Trading Limited continued to provide essential aftersales support,  maintaining continuity and reinforcing its long-term commitment to Nissan customers in the  country and to the Nissan brand.

Omar Shallah, CEO, Al Rakhaa Trading Limited, said: “This moment carries deep personal  and professional significance for me and for everyone at Al Rakhaa Trading Limited, as it  represents both the continuity of a long-standing journey and the beginning of a renewed  chapter. It reaffirms our enduring commitment to the Nissan brand and reflects a legacy of  trust, responsibility, and service that we owe to our customers, many of whom stood by the  brand and by us through exceptionally challenging years. As we move forward, we are proud to contribute to a new chapter for Syria, one defined by hope, openness, and sustainable  growth, and to reintroduce structured mobility and aftersales solutions that meet international  standards and reflect our long-term commitment to the market.”

Together with Al Rakhaa Trading Limited, Nissan aims to deliver mobility solutions and a  consistent ownership experience tailored to the region’s evolving needs. As sales operations  commence, Nissan is set to introduce an expansive line-up of products aligned with customer  needs, including the Patrol, X-Trail, X-Terra, Magnite, and Urvan, with further details on  availability to be shared closer to market launch.

About Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
Nissan is a global car manufacturer that sells a full line of vehicles under the Nissan and INFINITI brands. Nissan’s global headquarters in Yokohama, Japan, manages operations in four regions: Japan-ASEAN, China, Americas, and AMIEO (Africa, Middle East, India, Europe & Oceania).

For more information about our products, services, and commitment to sustainable mobility, visit Nissan AMI.You can follow us on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and LinkedIn and see all our latest videos on YouTube.

For more information, please contact:

Bassam Saifi
Deputy General Manager – Corporate Communications
Nissan Middle East FZE
E-mail: bassam.saifi@nissan-me.ae
Phone: +971 (0) 58 941 0090

Zaran Tarapore
Senior Account Manager
Edelman Middle East
E-mail: zaran.tarapore@edelman.com
Phone: +971 (0) 56 422 3536